Assembly blank for plastic utensils

ABSTRACT

THE PRESENT INVENTION IS DIRECTED TO AN ASSEMBLY BLANK FOR PLASTIC ARTICLES SUCH AS SPOONS, FORKS, ETC., IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF UTENSILS ARE MODED ON A FRAME WITH THE HANDLES IN OPPOSITE RELATION TO EACH OTER AND WHEREIN THE FRAME HAS REINFORCING MEANS TO PERMIT THE UTENSILS TO BE EASILY SEVERED THEREFROM.

Aug. 13, 1974 5 R. DAVIS, JR., ETAL $829,350 ASSEMBLY BLANK FOR PLASTIC UNTENSTLS .Filed Aug. 11, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1974 s. R. DAVIS, JR, 0 ASSEMBLY BLANK FOR PLASTIC UNTENSILS Filed Aug. 11. 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofiice 3,829,350 Patented Aug. 13, 1974 US. Cl. 161-41 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is directed to an assembly blank for plastic articles such as spoons, forks, etc., in which a plurality of utensils are molded on a frame with the handles in opposite relation to each other and wherein the frame has reinforcing means to permit the utensils to be easily severed therefrom.

DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to an assembly blank blank for articles such as spoons, forks and the like, and particularly to an assembly blank made of plastic.

Such plastic tableware articles such as spoons and forks are adapted to be discarded after use. They are made of a plastic material, are generally manufactured by a molding process and are packaged in shipping cartons. The articles are generally deposited in such shipping cartons in random fashion so that a certain amount of the space within the cartons is wasted. This ordinarily necessitates the use of larger cartons which increase shipping, storage and labor costs. In addition, packaging of such tableware articles in random fashion sometimes causes breakage.

There is described in Pat. No. 3,466,833, dated Sept. 16, 1969, a method and machine for packaging such plastic tableware articles in orderly stacks with the bowls and handles of adjacent utensils facing in opposite direction from each other. In that patent, there is also described and shown a blank for such utensils in which the utensils are molded together with and extending from a frame by a single web of material which is adapted to be cut to remove the spoons from the frame.

The present invention is directed to an improved blank of the type shown in said Pat. No. 3,466,833.

The present invention has, for one of its objects, the provision of a blank having a pair of reinforcing rails in order to permit the blank to remain in a flat position while the spoons are being severed from the blank.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of points of strength along the rail to permit the spoons to be easily severed from the frame.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the blank;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the blank from the other side;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the position of the parts before the spoons are severed;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the spoon being severed from the blank.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the severed spoon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, each spoon 1 has a bowl 2 and a handle 3 and is molded in a single piece with a blank 10. The blank 10 comprises a pair of frames 11 connected together by central and side webs 12 and 13. Each frame has a pair of side walls 14 and a pair of end walls 15.

The handles 3 of the adjacent spoons face in opposite directions. The handle 3 of each spoon 1 is connected to a side wall 14 of frame 11 by a web 16 of plastic material which is adapted to be severad by a knife 17, as will be hereinafter referred to. The above is described more fully and shown in said Pat. No. 3,466,833. I

The side and end walls 14 and 15 of each frame 10 have a pair of parallel leveling rails 20 extending therefrom the side walls 14 by a knife 17, as shown in FIGS. 4 15 and 14, respectively. Between each pair of rails 20, and at predetermined spaced intervals, a plurality of bearing posts 21 are provided. The bearing posts 21 are generally in line with the longitudinal axis of the spoons 1. Each spoon 1 has a bearing post 22 adjacent the rear of the handle 3 in axial alignment with the post 21.

With this construction, the blank 10 is placed in a severing mechanism, not shown. The spoons 1 are severed from the side walls 14 by a knife 17, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Support pins 23 and 24 are adapted to bear against the bearing posts 21 and 22, respectively, to support the blank 10 and the spoons 1 while the cutter 17 is being moved downwardly to sever the web 16.

During this operation, the rail elements 20 bear against the framework 25 of a cutting machine in order to keep the blank in a level condition. The bearing posts 21 and rails 20 on the end walls prevent buckling of the blank along a longitudinal axis while the rail elements 20 and posts along the end walls prevent distortion in a transverse direction.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved blank which permits the blank to remain in a flat position while the spoons are being severed and which provides points of strength along the rail to permit the spoons to be easily severed from the frame.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic article assembly blank for a plurality of plastic articles having a handle comprising a frame, the handle of each article being connected to the frame by a web, the frame having a pair of leveling rail elements extending therefrom, and a bearing post extending upwardly from said frame in axial alignment with each article and its web.

2. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail elements comprise a pair of parallel rails.

3. A blank as claimed in claim 2 wherein said post is mounted between said rails.

4. A blank as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said articles has a bearing post.

5. A blank as claimed in claim 4 wherein said frame has side and end elements and the rails extend along said side and end elements.

6. A blank'asclaimed in claim 5 wherein said bearing 3,586,161 6/1971 Fong et a1. 20656 AB posts on the frame extend along the side and end elements 3,704,779 12/1972 Nigg 206-56 AB of the frame. 3,606,000 9/1971 Wise 206-56 AB References Cited 5 PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS U.S. C1. X.R. 3,136,416 6/1964 Goldrosen 20656 AB 23. 20 47 5 3,466,833 9/1969 Penrod et a1 5323 

